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To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled:—
The undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing in the county of Albany in the state of New York , respectfully represent the great inequality now prevailing in the rates of postage on newspapers, the smallest being chargeable with the highest rates.
Whereas the principle of size and weight is now adopted in the laws of the United States as the basis of post office charges; and whereas newspapers not exceeding 1900 square inches are chargeable at the rate of 1 cent for 100 miles, and 1 1-2 cents for all greater distances, if without the state in which they are published; your petitioners would urge the importance of reducing said charges at least ONE HALF on all papers not containing more than 500 square inches.
Your petitioners represent that, within a few years past, numerous juvenile papers have sprung up in different sections of the United States, for the instruction of the young in science, morals, and religion, which papers are now extensively patronized by children, who, notwithstanding these papers are usually not one quarter the size or weight allowed by law, have to pay on them the same postage that is charged on the largest sheets that pass through the mails. Besides the manifest injustice of this regulation, your petitioners represent that many thousands of children and youth are deterred from subscribing to these useful papers solely by the comparatively excessive postage chargeable on the small sheets they desire to obtain.
A reduction therefore of postage, in favor of juvenile newspapers of small dimensions, would not only tend greatly to diffuse knowledge and piety, the bulwarks of our national prosperity, but would increase the revenues of the post office department.
For an immediate and proportionate reduction of postage, therefore, on all newspapers not containing more than 500 square inches, your petitioners respectfully and urgently pray.
NAMES. NAMES.
John Seage Hiram Towson
George G Frink
Benjamin Champion Christopher Smith
Barthalomew Mattice Peres Frink Jr
Ezra Champion John [Tosson?]
William J Smith Gilbert Gage
E. N. Bogardus Samuel H Moak
P Williams Jr
John Moon J W Chesebro.
John D Gallup Chas B Borrows
David Saddlemire.
Chas Gallup.
Joshua C Warrick James Gallup.
Eli Dension.
Amos Crary Israel Luce.
A[?] Gallup Amos Saddlemire.
A. W. Allen Hiram [Barckley?]
CIRCULAR.
Joseph Hale Peter Helicoss.
Benjamin Reamer Peter Barckley.
James W Mesick Ephraim Saddlemire.
John G. Werner Paul Saddlemire.
Milo S Swan Senica Saddlemire
Frederick Helligas Andrew Denison.
George. H. Williams Chas Settle.
Edmund, S. Seage Andrew Williams,
E F Tracy Richard, W, Seage.
Charles Chesebo David Honor.
Joseph Coe Phares Toles
John T Schemehorn Jesse Tyler
Joseph N[?] Conrad J Crounse
John G, Crary Horace Crary
Gehial White John Saddlemire Jnr
Avery White Gurdon Gallup
[David?] Taber John G Gallup
John Dennis Deny Barckley
Charles Clute Ira Bunzey
Lewis Toles Dennison Crary
Benjamin Williams J. R. Williams
James A Williams Ezra Stevens
Jerome Shute Stephen Merselis Jr
Sir Wm Stevens. Stephen Merselis
Saml Seage Wm Spawn
Wm [Truax?] H. W. Williams
D V [Anker?] John Armstrong
H Swan H Gage
Hiram Swan Wm Gage
Wm Gage Jr
Benjamin Lee
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NEW-YORK
DEC 2[?]3
PAID
3 ctsRev John SeageKnoxAlb.N.Y.
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N.Y.
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Memorial of Rev. John Seage and 88 other citizens of Albany county in state of New York praying a reduction of postage on juvenile newspapers
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Presented by H. C. Murphy
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February 8, 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post office & Post Roads
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Murphy

Partially Printed Document Signed, 2 page(s), RG 233, Entry 367: Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Thirtieth Congress, 1847-1849, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents Which Were Referred to Committees, 1847-1849, NAB,